Circuit breaker



June 15 1926 1,588,459

w. M, s. KILGOUR CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Teb. 9, 1925 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED *STATES WALTER M. S. KILGOUR, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application led February 9, 1923. Serial No. 618,103.

My invention relates to circuit breakers and although adapted particularly for use in connection with automobiles, tractors and like vehicles driven by integral combustion engines it is also adapted for use in connection with any machine or device in which it is desired a circuit will be interrupted, varied or established by changes in inclination of a part.

My invention which has among its objects simplicity of construction and certainty of operation will be best understood from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings showing one specific embodiment of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, while the scope of my invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a circuit breaker and associated parts; and

Fig. 2 shows a section of a circuit breaker on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 together with the mounting for the circuit breaker.

Referring to the drawings and to the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a body 1 formed of suitable insulating material, as for example bakelite. The body is provided with an interior chamber 3, the bottom 5 of which, as shown in the drawings, is of conical conformation, the sides preferably, although not necessarily, when viewed in profile being straight lines. EX- tending into the body is a bushing 7 of in sulating material, an exterior flange 9 of which is received in the annular recess 11 at the upper portion of the chamber 3, this recess providing an annular shoulder which carries a gasket 13 on which the flange rests. Surrounding the bushing and resting upon therflange 9 is a cap 15 the sleeve portion 17 of which is interiorly screw threaded and engages exterior screw threads about the upper portion of the body l. In an obvious manner the cap 15 holds the bushing in assembled relation with the body.

Molded into the body is a stud 19 the inner flanged end of which is provided with a conical recess 21 which forms the apex of vthe conical bottom of the chamber 3. EX-

tending through the bushing 7 is a pin 23 the end of which projects beyond the lower surface 2l of the bushing 7 toa point above the recess 21 and is conically shaped as shown u` at so as to present walls parallel to the walls of the recess 21. For placing the pin and the stud in electrical communication I place in the chamber 3 a body of mercury 27 or other liquid conductor of electricity. Preferably the bottom wall 24 of the bushing 7 is so ypositioned that the bushing leaves a small opening between the same and the 4conical bottom surface 5 of the chamber 3,

the corners of the bushing being beveled as indicated at 31 to eliminate the effect of wear which might otherwise occur if the edge were a sharp corner.

It will be noticed that the bottom wall 24 of the bushing 7 divides the chamber 3 into a lower or primary chamber and an upper or secondary chamber, the space between the bottom walls 5 and the bushing affording a restricted opening between the two chambers. It will also be noted that the bottom surface 24 of the bushing serves as a battle which will prevent undue agitation of the mercury when the device is subjected to ars or vibration and consequently will prevent accidental interruption of the circuit.

I have indicated my circuit breaker as arranged to interrupt the ignition circuit of a tractor driven by an internal combustion engine, and the circuit breaker for this purpose may be interposed at any suitable point in the circuit, as for example between the battery and the coils.

For providing a convenient mounting for the circuit breaker I have shown a plate 33 which is provided with perforated ears 35 adapted to receive the ends of bolts 37 for holding together the Sections of the gear casing of the tractor. This plate is perforated to receive the stud 19 which projects beyond the body 1, the stud being insulated from the plate by means ot the bushing 39 and washer' 41 of insulating material, as for eX- ample fibre. is screw threaded as is indicated at 4:3 and carries a nut L15 for holding the circuit breaker in assembled relation with the plate 33.

The stud 19 serves as one terminal for the circuit breaker, the screw threaded portion 13 of the stud carrying a nut 47 which causes the stud to serve as a binding-post, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 1, which shows a conductor 49 connected to the stud. The pin 23 serves as the other terminal for the circuit breaker, the same extending upwardly above the bushing 7 and carrying an integral collar 51 which rests on the top of the bushing. For holding the pin The lower end of the stud 19 rigidly in assembled relation with the bushing ll provide a metal cap 53 the interior screw threads of which engage exterior screw threads about the upper portion of the bushing and thus is enabled to clamp the collar 51 against the top surface of the bushing. Above the collar 51 the pin. is screw threaded as is indicated at 55, this screw threaded portion carrying a nut 57 which in con'unction with the cap 53 provides a bindingepost for securing the conductor 59 to the pin.

ln operation if the vehicle to which the circuit breaker is attached is tilted the mercury will flow out of the chamber below the bottom surface 24 of the bushing 7 and will interrupt the circuit when oneside of the conical wall 5 assumes approximately a horizontal position, and consequently by selecting body portions. 1 having conical walls 5 with angles corresponding to the maximum safe inclination of the vehicle in any direction l am able to insure that the ignition circuit will be interrupted when the vehicle reaches any predetermined angle of inclination from the horizontal. lt will be y understood that mercury is employed befrom the contacts until the surface on which the mercury rests passes just beyond the horizontal position when it immediately moves in the form of a globule away from the contacts.

Although I have described for purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that l am not limited thereby to its particular Ymechanical details, but that within the scope of my invention wide deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Claims:

1. A circuit breaker of the character described having means forming a primary and a secondary chamber, said primary chamber being substantially in the form oi an inverted cone and communicating with said secondary chamber through a relatively narrow slot about the periphery of the base of said inverted cone, a body of mercury in said primary chamber, a contact member in electrical communication with said body and a second contact member at the apex of said primary chamber.

2. A circuit breaker of the character described having means forming a primary and a secondary chamber, said primary chamber being substantially in the form of an inverted cone and communicating with said secondary chamber at the base of said f cone, a body of mercury in said primary chamber, a contact'member in electrical communication with said body, a second contact member at the apex of said primary chamber, and said secondary chamber about the base of said cone being wider than said base.

3. A circuit breaker of the character described having means orming a primary and a secondary chamber, said primary chamber being substantially in the form of an inverted cone, a body of mercury in said primary chamber, means affording communication between said chambers effective to permit lowing of said body from the primary to the secondary chamber when the device is tilted in substantially any direction` and contact members at different levels in electrical communication with said body.

4. A circuit breaker of the character described having means forming a primary and a secondary chamber', a body otmercury in said primary chamber, means affording communication between said chambers effective to permit ilowing of said body from the primary to the secondary chamber when the device is tilted in substantially any direction, and contact members at diierent levels in electrical communication with said bod 5.yA circuit breaker of the character described having a body of non-conducting material formed with an interior chamber containing a body of mercury, said chamber having its portion receiving said mercury substantially in the form of an inverted cone the base of which is above the level of said mercury, a contact member at the apex of said chamber, a contact member; above the apex of said member, said iirst mentioned member being moulded into said body and having a recess forming the apex of said interior chamber, and said body of mercury being in amount sufficient to form a quick break of the circuit when said body of non-conducting material is tilted to a predetermined angle.

6. A circuit breaker of the character described having a body of non-conducting material formed with an interior chamber containing a body of mercury, said chamber being substantially in the form of an inverted cone and being partially filled with said mercury, a contact member at the apex of said chamber and having a .recess forming the apex of said chamber, a second contact member in electrical communication with said body of mercury and having its end surfaces formed to lie substantially parallel with the walls of said recess, and said body of mercury being in amount suiicient to form a quick break of the circuitl when said body of non-conducting material is tilted to a predetermined angle.

7. A circuit breaker of the character described having a chambered body containing a body of mercury and a pair of contac members in electrical communication with said body of mercury, means forming a baille above said body of mercury for preventing breaking of the circuit when said circuit breaker is subjected to jars or vibra# tion, and means providing a restricted discharge for said mercury from said chamber whenv said chambered body is tilted.

v 8. A circuit breaker of the character described comprising means forming a chamber with bottom of substantially conical shape, a bushing extending into said chamber and having a bottom surface the periphery of whlch is adjacent the bottom walls of said chamber, a contact member extending through said bushing into said chamber, a contact member below the first mentioned contact member, and a body of mercury at the bottom of said chamber.

9. A circuit breaker of the character described having means providing a chamber for a body of mercury, terminals inelectrical contact with said body, and means affording a restricted discharge from said chamber when said device is tilted in any of a plurality of substantially widely divergent planes.

10. A circuit breaker of thev character de` scribed having means providing a chamber with a bottom wall of substantially conical shape, a contact member at the apex of said bottom wall and having a conical recess, a second Contact member above said first mentioned contact member and having a conical end the surface of which is parallel to the Walls of said recess, a Vbody of vmercury in said chamber, and means providing a baliie and also a restricted discharge for said mercury from said chamber.

11. In a circuit breaker of the character described, a body of insulating material having a chamber with a contact member at its bottom portion, said contact member having a recess, a bushing extending into said chamber in spaced relation about its periphery to the walls of said chamber and disposed above said recess, a second contact member extending throughsai'd bushing and terminating above said recess, a body of mercury in said chamber for making an electrical connection between said contact members, and said body of mercury being in amount suiiicient to make a quick break of such electrical connection when said body of insulating material is tilted to a predetermined angle.

12. In a circuit breaker of the character described, a pair of contact members, insulating supports for said contact members, one of said contact members being recessed and the other having a surface opposite said recess, a body of mercury for putting said contact members in electrical communication, said circuit breaker providing a chamber of which chamber said recess forms the extreme bottom portion, said chamber receiving said body of mercury and permitting` it quickly to break the electrical communication between said contacts by movement of a globule of mercury away from said contacts when said circuit breaker is tilted in substantially any direction to a predetermined angle, and said mercury being in amount suiicient to form such globule when said circuit breaker is so tilted.

13. In a circuit breaker of the character described, a pair of contact members, insulating supports for said contact members, one of said contact members being conically recessed and they other having a conical surface opposite said recess, a body of mercury for putting said contact members-in electrical communication, said circuit breaker providing a chamber of which chamber said conical recess -forms the extreme bottom portion, said chamber receiving said body of mercury and permitting it quickly to break the electrical communication between said contacts by movement of a globule of mercury away from said contacts when said circuit breaker is tilted in any direction to a predetermined angle, and said mercury being in amount sufficient to form such globule when said circuit breaker is so tilted.

1 4. In a circuit breaker of the character described, means forming a chamber, a contact member having a conical recess with imperforate walls serving as part of the bottom wall of said chamber, a second contact member having a conical surface with imperforate walls substantially parallel to the walls of said conical recess, and a body of mercury in said chamber establishing electrical communication between said contacts and being in amount suiiicient quickly to interrupt such electrical communication by movement of a globule of mercury away from said contacts when said means forming said chamber is tilted to a predetermined angle.

v15. A circuit breaker of the character described comprising a body of insulating lmaterial having a chamber formed therein,

a contact stud about which the base of said body is molded, said stud extending below said base and having a recess at its upper end flush with the bottom oi said chamber, a supporting bracket having a perforation receiving said stud, means cooperating with said stud for holding said circuitbreaker .in assembled relation with said bracket,

a second contact member in said chamber above said stud, a body of mercury in said chamber for establishing electrical communication between said contact member and stud, and said mercury being in amount suiiicient quickly to break such electrical communication by movement of a globule of mercury away from said contact member and stud when said body of insulating material is tilted to a predetermined angle.

16. A circuit breaker of the character described having a chambered body, a bushing carried by said body, said bushing extending into said chamber and dividing said chamber into two parts separated by a restricted opening, a member surrounding said bushing and cooperating with said body for holding the parts in assembled relation, a contact member extending through said bushing into said chamber, and means surrounding said contact member and cooperating with said bushing for holding said contact member and bushing in assembled relation.

17. A circuit breaker of the character described having a chambered body, a bushing carried by said body, said bushing extending into said chamber and dividing said chamber into two parts separated by a restricted opening, a member surrounding said bushinlg and cooperating with said body for holding the parts in assembled re lation, a contact member extending through said bushing intd said chamber, a collar or the like carried by said contact member and cooperating with said bushing for gauging the distance said contact member projects into said chamber, and means cooperating with said collar and bushing for holding the parts in assembled relation.

18. A circuit breaker of the character described having a chambered body, a bushing carried by said body, said bushing extending into said chamber and dividing said chamber into two parts separated by a restricted opening, a member surrounding said bushing and cooperating with said body for holding the parts in assembled relation, a contact member extending through said bushing into said chamber, and means cooperating with said bushing and contact member for gauging the distance said con' tact member proJects into said chamber and for holding said contact member and said bushing in assembled relation.

19. A circuit breaker of the character described having a body of non-conducting material formed with a chamber containing a body of mercury, a contact member at the bottom of said chamber, a second contact member above the contact member first mentioned, means forming a discharge orifice for said mercury when said body is tilted, said orifice being restricted in one direction, a second chamber in said body for receivin the mercury discharged through said ori ce, and said body of mercury being in amount sucient quickly to interrupt electrical communication between said contacts when ysaid body of non-conducting material is tilted to a predetermined angle.

20. A circuit breaker for the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine driven tractor, having a body Afixed to said tractor so as to tilt therewith, a chamber in said body having a conical bottom portion,

spaced contacts in the bottom portion of said chamber, a body of mercury in said .n chamber partly filling said conical bottom 21. A circuit breaker for the ilgnition cir- I cuit of an internal combustion engine drivenv tractor, having a body ixed to said tractor so as to tilt herewith, a chamber in said body having a conical bottom portion, means providinga baiiie and restricted oriice establishing communication between the upper and lower portions ot said conical bottom portion of said chamber, spaced contacts in the bottom portion ci said chamber below said means, a body ot mer cury in said chamber partly filling said conical bottomv portion and placing said contacts in electrical communication, and said body of mercury being in amount sutficient quickly to interrupt such electrical communication when said body is tilted to a predetermined angle. y

22. A circuit breaker for the ignition circuit ot an internal combustion engine driven tractor, having a body lixed'to said tractor so as to tilt therewith, an upper and a lower chamber in said body, anannular restricted orifice establishing communication between' said chambers, spaced contacts at the bottom ot said lower chamber, a body ot mercury in said lower chamber establishing electrical communication between said contacts, and said body ot mercury being in amount sufficient quickly to interrupt such electrical communication when said body is tilted to a predetermined angle.

23. A circuit'breaker having abody, a

I ,chamber in said body having a conical bottom portion, a member having a surface closely spaced relatively to the walls of said conical bottom portion to form an annular restrictedfexit from said bottom. portion of said chamber, a pair of spaced contacts at the bottom of 'said chamber, a body of mercury in said chamber establishing electrical communication between said contacts, and said body of mercury being in amount sufficient quickly to interrupt such electrical communication when said body is tilted to a predetermined angle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this speciiication.

WALTER M. S. KILGOUR.

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